Namibia
Namibia is a vast country located in south western Africa. Dominated by the Namib Desert in the west and the Kalahari in the east, huge steps are being taken to protect and preserve the incredible diversity and beauty of this hauntingly beautiful country. Namibia was the first country in the world to include the protection of the environment in its constitution.

NAMIBIA & THE SAN

This tour is aimed at introducing young adults to the incredible diversity of Namibia while incorporating environmental education.

Tour Highlights Ultimate Camping / Cooking adventure • Bushman experience • Etosha National Park • Sossusvlei sand dunes • Sossus Hiking Trail

DAY 1 DEPART FROM UK
Fly to Windhoek.

DAY 2 WINDHOEK
Arrive at Windhoek where you will be met by your guide and transferred to the hotel.

DAY 3 TSINSTABIS
We will make an early start to Tsumeb. The afternoon will be spent at the mysterious Lake Otjikoto which is Namibia's largest natural lake. Setting up camp we spend the remainder of the afternoon learning of the lives of the "little people" - diminutive in stature but wise in the ways of the wild - and perhaps the very first conservationists. Also referred to as the San, these hunter-gatherers roamed the plains of southern Africa for thousands of years and are regarded as the original inhabitants of Namibia.

DAY 4 TSINSTABIS
Today is a San experience as we learn ancient tracking and hunting skills, medicinal uses of plants, hunt for edible fruits, groundnuts and veld onions. The Bushmen are great storytellers - their songs and stories survive as a record of an ancient culture that faces an uncertain future.

DAY 5 ETOSHA – NAMUTONI
Today we arrive at Etosha National Park in the late afternoon. Etosha is the major nature reserve of Namibia, covering over 20 000 square kilometres with a large variety of animal and bird species. The park is situated around the Etosha Pan, and has an extensive network of gravel roads that enable us to get to remote areas of the park.

DAY 6 ETOSHA (OKAUKUEJO)
Another full day of game driving as we make our way across 150kms of the park from east to west. Tonight you have another opportunity to sit around the fantastic floodlit waterhole, which promises for a true sense of the wild and chances of great nocturnal game viewing.

DAY 7 OKAUKUEJO CAMP - ABA HUAB DESERT CAMP, DAMARALAND (CAMPING)
Leaving Etosha we are en route for the desert and the most scenic campsite of our safari, Aba Huab Desert Camp. We drive west to Khorixas, the capital of the Damaraland region. After a short break, we will leave the sealed roads far behind us as we drive into the desert. We stop for lunch at the petrified forest geological site, where a local guide will take us around and explain about the prehistoric trees, before continuing on to our campsite on the banks of the Aba Huab riverbed. Damaraland scenery is some of the best in Namibia, open grasslands studded with massive granite koppies create the feeling of being surrounded by mountains. We are well into desert elephant and black rhino country and other game such as springbok, ostrich and gemsbok are often seen. We will make an excursion to Twyfelfontein. Here, again, a local guide will introduce us to the ancient Bushman rock engravings. We also make a visit to another geological site in the area called the Organ Pipes.

DAY 8 SWAKOPMUND
Making our way to the coast our journey takes us through bush spotted scenery before we get to the desolate coastal belt surrounded by flat plains and further south continuous dune belt. We arrive in Swakopmund with the afternoon to explore this interesting and historical coastal town. There are fine beaches to walk along as well as a great museum, aquarium and galleries to visit.

DAY 9 SWAKOPMUND TO SESRIEM
Leaving Swakopmund we head south and drive past Walvis Bay along the Atlantic Ocean on route to Sesriem. A short distance away is Sossusvlei, surrounded by a dramatic sea of sand dunes reputed to be the highest in the world. Magnificent views of the desert can be seen from the top of the dunes, some over 300m high. The afternoon will be spent exploring this amazing area. We do a walk in this area with the highly specialised local guides of Sossus on Foot. The guide will bring the amazing history, geology, flora, fauna and cultural legacy of the Bushman to you. Tonight we will view the sunset from the top of Dune 45 - a truly memorable experience.

DAY 10 SESRIEM
The day will be spent exploring this amazing area. We take a walk in this area with the highly specialised local guides of Sossus on Foot. The guide will bring the amazing history, geology, flora, fauna and cultural legacy of the Bushman to you.

DAY 11 SESRIEM TO WINDHOEK
Leaving here we drive north east to the capital of Namibia, Windhoek.

DAY 12 DEPARTURE
After breakfast we transfer you to the airport.

DAY 13 ARRIVE IN UK
Arrive back in the UK.